The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-17
The Republican Party and the Negro

TO the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal
1t has generally been the conceit of Republic
ans at least, and gratefully acknowledged by a
large part of the colored people, that the Repub-
licans had done great service to that people by
extricating them from the slavery to which they
were doomed, and to which their fathers and
mothers had been doomed for more than two
hundred years. by their Southern masters.
Raised from the condition of chattel property
sold like cattle and hogs. though human beings.
yet on a level with all other property belonging
to those masters-to be free men and women;
and to all the rights and privileges guaranteed
to any other citizen of the United States. All
the work of the Republican party. This is
part of the history of our government during
the last twenty-five years. In proportion to
the benefit to those people. in being raised from
level with the brute property OF their masters
to full citizenship. must not that service be
estimated Then who, of all that negro race
which has been 40 elevated, and benefited can
find language that can express the value of that
service2
National Colored Press Association at Louisville,
the other day. did have appreciation of the
benefit the colored people have received at 1T. the
hand of the Republican party: He said: 1.-THE
negro who deserts the Republican party is
traitor to the living and tho dead;" while he
might have said, as he undoubtedly felt. land to
his race Also" Yet there was another there who
seemed, at least, to think that Republicans had
done them great service-possibly, estimating
ern task-master than to himself as free man.
There are some people such ingrates that they
will abuse their benefactors in proportion to the
service received at their hands; and he seems
to be of that sort Mcdaniel was his name; and
he said: For every service the Republicans
had done them they had done two in return"
Does he mean to say that the negro has twice
raised the Republicans out of the same physical
and political degradation from which his
significantly raised by the Re-
publicansl It that can be his only mean
inp hnf yvhq W. there is 0naf fact
tain; that such migrate has thousand fold
blacker heart than is his face. There is
consolation in only very few of his race being
like him; but the contrary. they appreciate
the great service done them by the Re-
publicane, and prove it by their votes
Some there are who know what it cost to ex-
press sympathy for the negro while in bondage
They know what the little embryo Republican
party did; and what its members suffered, in
curses threats, and death itself, that the slave
might be free and placed the same political
standing with ourselves. / remember such
language this: You ought have your
throat cut go over the river yonder. and they
lection of having at time bare escape
from being sunk in the Ohio river
Daniel said, 1.-THE negro owed no indy
ing allegiance" to the Republican party.
Let him go Alton, ILL.,. and look at the spot
where Lovejoy gave his life, at the hand of
blood thirsty pro-slavery mob for the 'undying
allegiance" he had to a principle that God created
the negro with the same political rights as he
himself possessed Daniel was unwilling to
wear any coat that was cut and put on him with
out his leave" Well, is he not, now. wearing
the coat Of freedom and American citlzensnip.
that was cut and put on him by the Republican
party. and which was dyed in Loyeioy's boodl
Perhaps he is dissatisfied with that coat Then
let him throw it off, go back to
his master, and take the yoke
of bondage again. May be there was a mistake,
and that coat put to his masters bull
calf or he goat In that his bad humor
may arise from the fact that the Republicans
nnt nj acodh i'm On Hnr
given him to the public crib; while the
usual result Of such neglec is the disease
1itical doctors call 'eorehead.o When one hears
of such fellows as Daniel and others-perhaps
a few in our city-who show such base lngrati-
tude toward those who suffered much for
them. while they were powerless to help them
selves, has he not justifable indignation
toward those migrate? A. S. KINGSLEY.
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug 10.